Pollinator plant

Columbine

Aquilegia vulgaris

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Common names

39 names · 31 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (30)
Dutch
  • Gewone akelei
  • Wilde akelei[2][3]
French
Basque
  • Kuku-belarra[3]
Belarusian
  • Ворлікі звычайныя[3]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 欧耧斗菜[3]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 歐耬斗菜[3]
Czech
  • orlíček obecný[3]
Danish
  • Almindelig akeleje[3]
Estonian
  • harilik kurekell[3]
Finnish
  • lehtoakileija[3]
Galician
German
Hungarian
  • Közönséges harangláb[3]
Irish
  • Colaimbín[3]
Italian
Japanese
  • アメリカオダマキ[3]
  • セイヨウオダマキ[3]
Latvian
  • Parastā ozolīte[3]
Lithuanian
  • Paprastasis sinavadas[3]
Norwegian
Polish
  • Orlik pospolity[3]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Водосбор обыкновенный[3]
  • Орлик[3]
Slovak
  • orlíček obyčajný[3]
Slovenian
  • Navadna orlica[3]
Spanish
Swedish
Turkish
  • Haseki Küpesi[3]
Ukrainian
  • Орлики звичайні[3]
Welsh
  • Troed y golomen[3]
Sources & name notes (3)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • columbine — Page 2, column 1, row top 652 pt; common-name cell after Aquilegia vulgaris.; Aquilegia vulgaris.
[2] Aquilegia vulgaris — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Columbine — results[1].names[3]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Wilde akelei — results[1].names[18]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Ancolie commune — results[1].names[12]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Gemeine Akelei — results[1].names[5]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Gewöhnliche Akelei — results[1].names[6]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Wald-Akelei — results[1].names[7]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • common columbine — results[1].names[1]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • European columbine — results[1].names[10]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Aguileña — results[1].names[37]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Aquilegia comune — results[1].names[13]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Aquilégia — results[1].names[23]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
[3] Aquilegia vulgaris — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Columbine — results[1].names[3]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Wilde akelei — results[1].names[18]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Ancolie commune — results[1].names[12]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Gemeine Akelei — results[1].names[5]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Gewöhnliche Akelei — results[1].names[6]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Wald-Akelei — results[1].names[7]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • common columbine — results[1].names[1]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • European columbine — results[1].names[10]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Aguileña — results[1].names[37]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Aquilegia comune — results[1].names[13]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Aquilégia — results[1].names[23]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • lehtoakileija — results[1].names[4]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Водосбор обыкновенный — results[1].names[8]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Орлик — results[1].names[9]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Corniol — results[1].names[11]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Troed y golomen — results[1].names[14]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • orlíček obecný — results[1].names[15]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • akeleie — results[1].names[16]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Almindelig akeleje — results[1].names[17]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • harilik kurekell — results[1].names[19]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Akleja — results[1].names[20]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Közönséges harangláb — results[1].names[21]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Paprastasis sinavadas — results[1].names[22]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • セイヨウオダマキ — results[1].names[24]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • アメリカオダマキ — results[1].names[25]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Orlik pospolity — results[1].names[26]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • akvileja — results[1].names[27]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • 欧耧斗菜 — results[1].names[28]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • 歐耬斗菜 — results[1].names[29]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Ворлікі звычайныя — results[1].names[30]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Bonetes — results[1].names[31]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Орлики звичайні — results[1].names[32]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Parastā ozolīte — results[1].names[33]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Navadna orlica — results[1].names[34]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Colaimbín — results[1].names[35]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • orlíček obyčajný — results[1].names[36]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Kuku-belarra — results[1].names[38]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
  • Haseki Küpesi — results[1].names[39]; taxon id 51807; Aquilegia vulgaris.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Botanical family
Ranunculaceae

Genus-level classification for Aquilegia; this does not confirm the complete catalogue name.

Sources [1]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Aquilegia vulgaris in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [2]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Unknown
Pollen value Medium
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Herbaceous
Size
Small
Dimensions
1.00 m high × 0.50 m wide
Lifecycle
Perennial

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
3-9
Moisture
Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Partial shade, Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Flowers, Tea
Functions
Parasiticide, Fragrant
Edibility
2 out of 5
Medicinal value
1 out of 5

Flowers can be eaten raw, as they are rich in nectar and pleasantly sweet. They are a tasty addition to salads and can also be enjoyed as a refreshing snack. Moreover, these flowers can serve as an alternative to tea.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Aquilegia — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: Botanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 5404208; ID ZHP; rank genus; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Wildflowers

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 1, entry Aquilegia vulgaris (top 652 pt)

    Source checked on .